Art of refrigeration and apparatus therefor



lJune 16, 1936:

F. LE G. BRYANT ART OF REFRIGERATION AND'l APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed NOV. 19, 19554 l ATTORNEY.

Patented June 1.6, 19.36

ART F nEFnIGEaA'rloN AND APPARATUS v 'rnEREFoR -Forrest Le Grandv Bryant, New York, N. it.. Application November 19, 1935,' Serial No. 50,499

28 Claims.

This invention pertains to the art of refrigeration and has for its object the provision of a new method .of producing refrigeration without machinery or moving parts, and the necessary apparatus therefor. Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The method herein. disclosed provides for the evaporation of a liquid, preferably water, and the absorption of its latent heat, wherein refrigeration is provided. Simultaneously this water may be drawn from a solution whereupon the heat of dissociation is absorbed and this added to the net refrigerating eiect. This water vapor or steam is now absorbed by a solvent, preferably sulphuric acid. Through the sulphuric acid, containing this Water, an electric current is passed and causes the 'water absorbed to break down ,into its two chemical elements, hydrogen and oxygen which are led to another chamber to be synthesized again to Water. After being synthesized the water is led back to the evaporating chamber. to again be evaporated and so the process continues. It will be noted that the sulphuric 4acid is performing two functions at once, namely, absorption and liberation of water and at substantially the same temperature which makes the process continuous in operation, eliminates large heat losses, and overcomes the objectional features of the absorption systems.

The process could be carried on without synthesizing the hydrogen and oxygen but allowing them to pass away into the atmosphere or by using them 4as a byproduct of refrigeration. In l this case additional water would constantly have to be added to the system.

This system provides electric refrigeration without machinery, is simple of construction and eliminates many objectionable features of systems that have attempted this result.

In the preferred embodiment ofthe invention water would `be .used as the refrigerant. It isa well known fact that water may be boiled far below its normal freezing point by adding a small amount of salt or acid to prevent freezing. In my structure I provide for producing refrigeration by evaporating water and also by evaporating water While drawing it from solution with 'sulphuric acid'.- In the former case some .salt or similar substance would have to be provided in the evaporator with'the water if temperatures below 0 C.

were desired. In thelatter case the acid would sumce.

The absorption of water 4vapor by sulphuric Aacid is a method used many years past for the production-of low temperatures in which case, however, the water absorbed and the acid were heated to remove the water' and reconcentrate the acid for further use. Removal of this water by electrolysis may b e provided by applying a cur- 5 rent to the acid by electrodes or by inducing a current in this solution (water and acid) In the apparatus as shown I induce the current.

Synthesis of the resultant hydrogen and oxygen may be provided in a variety of ways; by catalytic synthesis using a metal as a catalyst, by ionic catalytic synthesis using a gas such as neon, argon, etc., as a catalyst, in a mercury vapor arc using the activated mercury vapor, by ignition or .by radio chemical action using an electrical glow and known as glow synthesis, or by photochemical action.

The pressure differences throughout the system which, in normal operation, would amount to about two inches of mercury, are' balanced by 20 columns of water and/orsulphuric acid.

0f course, it is understood that other solvents besides sulphuric acid could be used an'd other solutes-besides water forming solutions that would be satisfactory electrolytes. However for the sake of convenience I shall conne the description to the use 'of water and sulphuric acid.

Referring to the drawingz- Figure I is the preferred embodiment of my invention; l

Figure II is a modiiication of the evaporating means shown in Figure I;

Figure IIIis a modification of the synthesizing means shown in Figure I; y

Figure IV illustrates a trap that may be used between the electrolyzing chamber 'and the synthesizing chamber;

Figure V illustrates a method of inducing a current in the gases to be synthesized; and

Figure VI shows. a method of applying va cur- 40 rent to the gases by electrodes for the purpose of performing synthesis. In Fig. I, I represents an evaporator lled to the point 2 with water. The pipe 3 leads from the top of the evaporator I to the absorber I. As v concentrated sulphuric acid spills from the tube 5 into the absorber 4 and passes down over'plates 6, 6 water vapor is rapidly absorbed and drawn fromv the evaporator. I through pipe 3. This causes water 1 in evaporator l to boil and absorb 50 heat (its latent heat) producing the desired refrigeration. Nowthis sulphuric acid 8 and the water that it hasl absorbed in the absorber 4 passes by gravitydown pipe 9 and is led into the electrolysis chamber I0 at point ll.. When inside 55 the electrolysis chamber I the acid and its solute, water, form a closed turn around the transformer core I2. A current in oil I3 from lines I4, I5 excites a flux which trave around in core I2 and through the closed turn formed by the solution in the electrolysis chamber I0. Naturally a current is induced in this solution which ows in the direction of arrows I6, Il as the current to coil I3 alternates. This current causes the water contained therein to break down into its chemically component parts hydrogen and oxygen and thus separates the water from the acid concentrating the acid. 'I'his hydrogen and oxygen pass up` balanced by the liquid columns in tubes 29 and 5. Note the liquid level at point 2| in tube 2D. The hydrogen and oxygen which has separated from the acid in separator I9 rises through tube 22 and enters the synthesis apparatus 23. Here it passes through a section of the synthesis apparatus 23 in which it conducts a current from contact 24 to contact 25 which current is supplied from transformer 25. This current due to radio chemical reaction and/or due to raising the gases to their ignition point causes a combustion, the hydrogen and oxygen combining form steam which passes down tube 26' and condensing, collects at point '21 as water. I'he jet arrangement 28 is to assist recirculationof any hydrogen and oxygen through the current area that did not synthesize on its first passage. In the case of combustion above the ignition point this would not be necessary since in this type of combustion the l flame propagates itself throughout the gas by self propulsion.- 'I'he tubes I8 and 20 serve not only as conducting means but also radiate heat from the acid which has been added in absorber 4 due to the heat-of absorption of water in sulphuric acid and in the electrolysis chamber I0 due to the 12R electrical drop. In a like manner tubes- 2B' and 29 radiate the heat of condensation of water and the heat of association of the acid and Water in case acid is used in thejevaporator as described later. The water that collects at point 21 passes up through tube 29 to evaporator I to replenish the supply that has` been evaporated and so the cycle of operation is completed. In the system as described with pure water in the evaporator Vit would. be necessary to add salt or a similar substance'to the water to prevent freezing of the refrigerant when obtaining temperatures below 0 C.

From Figure I, :lt-will be seen that if the device is laid on side 3l all the acid and water would gravitate to the lower parts leaving the evaporator I empty. Then, upon righting and operation of the device a pure charge of water would collect in the evaporator. It might be desirable however point 21 which heat is liberated from tube 29 and assists in the refrigerating effect by adding the heat of dissociation when the water is drawn from evaporator I. The water added at point 2l tends to diffuse itself up through the tube 29 to evapo- 5 rator I, or as it rises into leg 29 is displaced by the heavier specic gravity of the acid and thus rises into the evaporator. Its heat of association is radiated from tube 29 and upon evaporating in evaporator I its heat of dissociation is absorbed in addition to itslatent heat.

The numeral I indicates a thermostat which controls the current supply from source 'I6 to electrolysis coil I3 and synthesis coil 26 actuating the system upon a rise in the temperature of the evaporator I and discontinuing operation when the temperature has fallen to a predetermined point.

Figure III illustrates an alternative type of syn- Athesis chamber which might be used in place of the one shown in Figure I. In this type a current is induced in a gas to be synthesized, instead of being applied as in Figure I. Referring to Figure III, a flux is caused to ow in core 33 by a current flowing in coil 34. The gas contained in the tube 35 constitutes a closed turn around the transformer core 33 and hence a current is induced therein which flows in the direction of arrows 3S and 3l as the current alternates in the coil 34.

Figure IV illustrates a trap which it may be 30 found advisable to place between the chamber .where synthesis takes place and the chamber where electrolysis takes place for the purpose of preventing the synthesizing ame from propagating itself back into the electrolysis chamber. An 30 additional object would be to absorb any shock of combustion Referring to the drawing, the gas from the electrolysis chamber enters the chamber 4I through the tube 40 and passes down the small'tube 42 up through the liquid (water or acid and Water) 43 andis synthesized by electrical discharge from the contacts 44 and 45. The resultant water-overflows into tube 46 andthence passes tothe evaporator in the manner illustrated in Figure I. An increase in pressure in chamber 48 would merely cause the liquid to back up temporarily into tube 42 and chamber 4I. Referring again to Figure I it might be advisable to restrict the diameter of some portion of tube 26 to obtain the same result on the other side of the synthesis chamber. The pulsating effect of combustion would assist in causing mixture of the water and acid in tubes 2B' and 29 in the structure in which acid is used in theV evaporator. To balance pressure' drop during synthesis trap Fig. I V would be reversed.

Figure V illustrates a method that may be used in inducing current in the gas to be synthesized, by means of a high frequency current and electrostatic and/or electromagnetic induction. The tube 5I contains the gas in which currents-are to be induced and is surrounded by a coil 52 of several coplanar turns. The ends of this coil are e innected to twoLeyden jars 53 and 54 vwhich jars are charged by means of an interrupterless which the gas is contained through which I wish to pass a current. .The electrodes 6I and 62 are sealed into porcelain members 82 and 94 which `member 64 and contact 6I, or vice versa.

While the above description includes the pre' ferred embodiment of my invention I reserve the right to make any changes inthe method or apparatus that does not depart from the spirit of' theinvention or the scope of the subjoined claims. Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. The process -of refrigeration whichV comprises evaporating a liquid, absorbing the evolved fvapor in a solvent,` liberating this solute from solution by breaking it down into its chemically component parts, synthesizing these chemically component parts to form` the original liquid again and utilizing the synthesized liquid to replenish that liquid' which was evaporated;

2. The process of refrigeration which comprises evaporatinga liquid and simultaneously drawing the same. from solution, absorbing the evolved 'vapor in a solvent, liberating this solute from solution by breaking it down into its chemically component parts, synthesizing these chemically component parts to form the original liquid again and utilizing the synthesized liquid to replenish the liquid which was 4evaporated and drawn from solution'. u

3. The process of refrigeration which comprises evaporating a liquid, circulating a solvent by percolation to absorb the vapor therefrom, liberating the solute is separated from the solvent synthe. sizing these chemically component parts to form the.A original chemical compound, and utilizing the latter compound to replenish the supply originally evaporated and to produce pressure difference between the point where synthesis takes place and the point where evaporation takes place.

`'7. The process of refrigeration which consists in evaporating a liquid 'to absorb its latent heat, absorbing the vapor evolved therefrom through the agency of a solvent, passing an electric current through the resultant solution to break up the solute into its chemically component parts,

, synthesizing these parts to form the original liquid and using this liquid to replenish the supply originally evaporated. y

8. ,The process of refrigeration which consists in evaporating a liquid and drawing it from solution to absorb its latent heat and heat of dissociation, absorbing the vapor evolvedtherefromthrough the agency of a solvent, passing an elecv tric current through the resultant solution to this vapor from its solvent by breaking it down into its chemically component parts, synthesizing the parts to form the original liquid' and using this liquid toreplenish the original liquid vwhich was evaporated;

4. The process of refrigeration which comprises evaporating a liquid to absorb heat, absorbing the evolved Vapor in a solvent, liberating the heat of solution, separating the solute from solution by breaking it =down into its chemically component parts, liberating -the heat evolved in breaking upthe liquid into its chemically component parts, synthesizing these parts to iorm the original liquid compound, liberating the heat evolved in this synthesis and return tothe original liquid form and; replenishing the original liquid evaporated with this product of synthesis.

5. The process of -`refrigeration which comprises evaporating a liquid and drawing it from solution to absorb its latent heat and heat of dissociation, absorbingtheevolved vapor in a solvent, liberating the heat of solution, separating the solute from solution by breaking it down `into its chemically component parts, liberating the heat evolved in breaking up the liquid into its chemically component parts, synthesizing these parts to form the original liquid compound, lib-l erating the heat evolved in this` synthesis and return to the yoriginal liquid form, dissolving this liquid product of synthesis in the solution from which the original liquid was drawh and liberating the heat of solution so evolved.

6. The process of refrigeration whichconsists iggvaporating a liquid, absorbing the evolved brea-k up the solute into its chemically component parts, synthesizing these parts to form the original liquid and adding this liquid to the solution from whence liquid was originally drawn through evaporation. A.

9. A process in accordance with claim 7 including direct application of the electric current tothe solution by means of electrodesv Afor the purpose of electrolysis.

10. A process in accordance with claim 7 inf cluding induction of a current in the solution,y for the purpose of electrolysis.

11. A process in accordance with claim 7 in cluding'radio chemical action to effect synthesis.

12. A process in accordancewithl claim 7 including ionic catalytic action to effect synthesis.

13. A process in accordancewith claim 7 including metallic catalytic action to eiectsynthesis.

14. A process in accordance with claim 7 including combustion above the ignition point to effect synthesis. I'

15. A process, in accordance with claim 7 including induction of a current in the chemically component parts of the decomposed liquid for the purpose of performing synthesis.

16. A process consisting of evaporating a liquid to absorb its latent heat, absorbing the evolved.

vapor by means of a solvent, breaking up the solute into its vchemically component parts to render the solvent capable of further absorption and liberating the products of chemical decomposition as by-products.

17. A refrigeration apparatus,` including in,l

combination, Vmeans for evaporating a liquid,4 means for absorbing the evolved vapor in a solvent, means* for liberating this -solute by breaking it down into its chemically component parts, means .for synthesizing thechemically component parts to form the original liquid, andmeans for utilizing the synthesized liquid to replenish that liquid which was originally evaporated.

18. A refrigeration apparatus as claimed in claim 1'?, wherein electrolysis is employed for breaking the liquid into its component parts,

y 19;'A refrigeration vapparatus as claimed in claim-17, wherein the synthesizing means is a radio chemical means'.I y

20. A refrigeration apparatus as claimed in claim 1'7, wherein the synthesizing means is a means for inducing a current in the chemically'75 component parts of the decomposed liquid for the purpose of performing synthesis.

21. A refrigeration apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the liquid used is water and the solvent sulphuric acid.

22. A refrigeration apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein means adjacent to the evaporating means is provided to act as a sump to retain the liquid and solvent should the apparatus be laid upon one side.

23. A refrigeration apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the means for liberating the solute by breaking it down into its component parts isan electrical means, and wherein the synthesizing means includes means for applying an electrical current to such component parts.

24. A refrigeration apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein an electrical transformer induces an electric current in the solute to break such solute downl into its chemically component parts.

25. A refrigeration apparatus as claimed in l claim 17, wherein the synthesizing means includes an electrostatic means for inducing an-electrical current in the chemically componentl parts of the decomposed liquid.

26. A refrigeration apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein there is thermostatically controlled means for operating the apparatus due to products of electrolysis, means to conduct the,

solvent back to the absorbing chamber, means for synthesizing the products of electrolysis and for returning them to their original liquid form, and means for returning the synthesized liquid to the evaporation chamber.

28. A refrigeration apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein there is a means for balancing the pressure diierence between the absorption chamber and the electrolysis chamber, inde-v pendent means for balancing vthe pressure difference between the separation and absorption chambers; and means for balancing the pressure difference between the synthesizing means and the evaporation chamber.

FORREST LE GRAND BRYANT. 

